Crystal River Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Crystal River, Florida 33762
Friday, July 25, 2003 14:35 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot stated that on final approach to land he had been compensating for a right-quartering headwind, and just before the landing flare a gust of wind from the right affected the airplane. He said he over-corrected for the wind, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway into a muddy area. As the airplane departed the runway, the left main landing gear wheel dug into the mud, and the airplane pivoted to the left, striking some bushes and damaging both wings. Prior to the accident, the student pilot said that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot 's failure to maintain control while landing in crosswind which resulted in airplane departing the runway and incurring damage.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/25/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1435
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Crystal River
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33762
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 285202N
Event Location Longitude 0823416W
Event Location Airport Crystal River Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CGC
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1435 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID CGC
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.13
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14339
NTSB Notification Source FAA Tampa FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N643AM
NTSB Number MIA03CA151
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Aircraft Mfg & Dev. Co. (AMD)
Aircraft Model CH2T
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 20-0054
Certified Max Gross Weight 1606
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 18 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 56
Airframe Hours 1145
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name National Aviation Holdings
Aircraft Owner Street Address 14609 Airport Parkway Suit 209
Aircraft Owner City Clearwater
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33762
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name National Aviation Holdings
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Clearwater
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PIE
Departure City St. Peterburg
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GNV
Destination City Gainesville
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 11 2003 9:36AM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 4555
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --